Angry scenes left residents frustrated over a council refusal to remove a densely built-up part of Brentwood from a plan that designates where thousands of houses should be built in the borough.

Residents of Honeypot Lane, which has been allocated an extra 250 houses in the borough’s draft Local Development Plan (LDP) document, have insisted the area is unsuitable for further development.

An attempt from opposition Liberal Democrat group to strike Honeypot Lane, as well as Priests Lane which could grow by 130 houses and Doddinghurst Road, which has been allocated 250 homes, from the list of sites on Wednesday (November 15), was rejected by council leader Louise McKinlay, who argued more evidence needed to be gathered to ensure the LDP could not be effectively challenged by developers.

Resident Chris Puddefoot said: "At Wednesday's council meeting, it was explained that the process of gathering evidence in respect of the various sites is continuing, in order to establish which sites are or are not viable for development.

"If the proposed sites are shown not to be viable and dismissed, it is probable that the developers will appeal and therefore indisputable evidence showing how unsuitable the Honeypot Lane site is for housing development is essential.

"There appears to be a lack of transparency regarding how the evidence is being gathered and prepared. This gives us serious cause for concern."

Cllr McKinlay told the meeting: “We have not completed the work on gathering the evidence, so if we take those sites out now, we have not got the evidence to defend that decision."

The next stage of the LDP plan is expected to see the document put out for consultation in January before a final version is submitted to the Government after the summer next year.

A total of 1,281 people or groups made representations to the Draft Local Plan in 2016, which sets out where Brentwood’s housing should be built over the next 20 years.

Many of the sites have proved contentious within Brentwood, with the major allocation of 2,500 homes for the Dunton garden suburb site on land south of the A127 proving difficult to negotiate with Basildon Council.

Cllr McKinlay added: “We are know it has been a journey to get to the final stage where we put forward the final LDP to the Secretary of State. The key thing about that plan when we get to it is that it must be evidence-based.

Residents outside the site of the proposed development in Priests Lane

“It is simply not enough for us to say we do not want something in a plan. It is not enough for us to say we know there are going to be highways issues or ask what will happen to education.

“While these are very valid concerns, we cannot address them unless we do it properly and in its entirety.

“Whatever the plan is when it gets submitted, it will be contested by someone, somewhere. There will be a developer somewhere who does not get their piece in the LDP when they want it.

“We need to be in a position that we can defend the decision we have made.”

The meeting came just days before the government asked Brentwood Borough Council for more information about the progress of the development plan.

The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Sajid Javid, has written to the Conservative-run council to explain, by January 31, 2018, the next steps in the process.

Lib Dem leader Barry Aspinell has written to Cllr McKinlay, claiming that the borough finds itself in an “embarrassing” and “shameful” situation.

He said: “In the case of Brentwood, intervention from the Government through failure to co-operate, or failure to meet deadlines set out in our Local Development scheme has been an increasing likelihood waiting on the horizon.

“In all my 36 years as a councillor, I have never, ever, encountered a situation with such serious repercussions to our town as this one. Frankly, it is at best embarrassing, and at worse, devastating.

“I cannot begin to express my group’s disappointment, frustration and downright anger on learning of the steps the Secretary of State for Local Communities is taking, especially when there has been more than sufficient time for your administration to get their act in order.

“Without any doubt it is the total abject failure of the Conservative administration to finalise this plan years ago that has led us to where we are now, and you all hold the shameful responsibility for that.”

In a written statement to the House of Commons last week, Mr Javid said he was particularly concerned about 15 local planning authorities – that includes Brentwood - that have recently either failed the duty to co-operate or failed to meet the deadlines set out in their local development schemes.

He said “Where local planning authorities continue to fail to produce a plan to provide certainty to their community on where future development will be brought forward, we will use our intervention powers to ensure plans are put in place.”

A spokeswoman for Brentwood Borough Council said: "Brentwood Borough Council is working hard with many partners and stakeholders to get its Local Development Plan right, and this is recognized by the Government.

"The recent letter – one of 70 sent to councils across the country - addresses a number of issues. The council has responded to these.

"It is very important to note that none of this constitutes any form of “special measures” or “intervention” by the Government.

"The Government has simply requested that Brentwood informs and updates it regarding progress with the Local Development Plan and this in turn offers the council a welcome opportunity to also highlight the challenges that it faces.

"Given that the borough consists 89.1 per cent Green Belt, there are limited options in accommodating the legal requirements for housing development and of course, it is vital to recognise and protect our residents’ expectations with regard to the green spaces the area enjoys. However, the council is compiling a plan that will meet the number of dwellings and employment land required in Brentwood and this is progressing well.

"Only last week (Wednesday 15) at Full Council, a vote was approved to proceed to the next stage of delivering the LDP. This is part of the overall process.

"The timetable which Brentwood Borough Council will meet is:

** January 2018 – Final round of Reg 18 consultation starts

** March 2018 – Reg 18 closes

** April/May/June – feedback considered and final plan proposals compiled